How to Convey Interest and Experience in Computer Science?

codemachine
Sat, 01 Aug 2015 22:57:31 +0000

Hi,

As some of you may know, I have quite a bit of experience with computer programming, a hobby and love I picked up at age 9. In these last 6 years, I have produced and coded several apps, and plan to code a few more with partners and by myself by the end of my high school career. Obviously, none of these have become Fortune 500 worthy, or even successful to catch attention of Google executives looking to recruit young talent. In fact, I had to take 2 of them down because they were not creating enough revenue to keep up on app stores, and it appears the rest of my surviving ones will head that way soon enough. What these did show, however, was dedication and passion, I think.

In 2 years, I hope to apply to top CS programs including Princeton (SCEA), Stanford, and Carnegie Mellon. I know that I could write about my experience in essays and on my application, but who would even say they would believe this? I’d like my passion to be known and to really speak volumes for me, because I work so hard to perfect my craft. You guys can understand, right?

So my question to you is, when the time comes, how should I go about really show that I’m not blowing smoke up the adcom’s you-know-what and the real deal? List it first and foremost with my EC’s? Explain the circumstances of why I had to admit defeat in the tech game at age 11 but am making a comeback? List programming languages as native tongues?

Thank you in advance